Cigarette lighter



Patented Oct. 8, 1935 ATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE LIGHTER Stanley Isenberg, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Archie M. Andrews, New York, N. Y.

Application September 28, 1933, Serial No. 691,374

8 Claims.

This invention relates to lighters for cigarettes or the like, and more particularly to catalytic lighters designed for pocket and personal use.

A general object of the invention is the provision of such a device having a catalytic element vdisposed for contact with a cigarette or the like Which is simply constructed to provide novel and improved means for supporting a body of absorbent material adapted to be charged with vaporizable fuel and a mixing chamber for atmospheric air and fuel vapor adjacent the outer surface of said body, is eilicient in operation, free from undesirable features common to many of such structures known to the prior art, and readily and cheaply constructed and assembled.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of such a device wherein atmospheric air is admitted to the interior of the casing near the lower end thereof whereby the air drawn thereinto is caused to pass through and over the extended outer surface of the body of absorbent material efficiently to pick up and mix with fuel vapors emanating from the absorbent material thereby insuring efficient operation with a charge of fuel for a maximum length of time, and the catalytic element is suitably mounted in spaced relation with respect thereto to avoid formation of condensates preventing efiicient operation, which is simply constructed to attain these and other desired ends, and which includes leflicient means for covering the catalytic element and the air passages to avoid damage, deterioration and condensate formation on the catalytic element adverse to operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision in such a device of means for confining the body of absorbent material to insure a predetermined shape thereof essential to ready assemblage and eflicient operation throughout a prolonged life which is constructed in a manner to avoid interference with efficient mixture of air and fuel vapor.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds,

lthe invention consists in the certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawing in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawing:

Figure l is an elevational View of a lighter embodying my invention with the closure cap thereof being shown in raised position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view 15 of a lighter embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, parts thereof vbeing broken away;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2 with the lower decorative bead omitted;

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of the absorbent casing, parts thereof being broken away;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the catalytic disk holder sleeve, parts thereof being broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction thereof;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a member for supporting the catalytic disk;

Fig. 9 is a top plan View of a spring member for holding the member shown in Fig. 8 in assembled 35 position within the holder sleeve shown in Fig. 7, and l Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the inner casing shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing more specifically by characters of reference, the lighter, in its preferred form as illustrated in Fig. 1, includes an outer casing I0 made of any suitable material, such as metal or the like, an inner casing I I constructed of similar material and adapted to be received within said outer casing, a holder sleeve I2 for supporting the catalytic element and adapted for disposition on the upper portion of said inner casing II to be held thereon by frictional engagement, and a closure member or cap 50 I3 adapted to be received over the upper portion of the outer casing I0 for enclosing the upper portion of the inner casing I I with its associated holder sleeveV I2. The inner casing I I and the holder sleeve I2 thereby cooperate to form a 55 holder for the catalytic element and a body of absorbent material.

The inner casing II is particularly designed for receiving and holding an absorbent material which is charged with a Vaporizable fluid, such as alcohol or the like, said absorbentl being in the form of a cylindrical wick I4 disposed within a cylindrical screen I5. The inner casing II is provided on the outer surface thereof with a plurality of longitudinally inwardly extending grooves I6, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, said grooves extending along the full length of said inner casing and having the lower portions cut away, as shown at I1, for a purpose to be presently more fully described.

The inner casing II, as illustrated in Fig. 6, is reduced in diameter adjacent its upper portion as indicated at I8, upon which reduced portion is adapted to be received the cap I2. The uppermost edge of the inner casing II is turned inwardly, as shown at I9, to provide an inwardly annular flange against which the screen I5 is limited in its upward movement. Said iiange is provided with cut-out portions 20 intermediate the grooves I5 for a purpose to be presently more fully described.

The diameter of the screen I5, as shown in Fig. 5, is of a size equal to the distance between the vinner surfaces of any pair of oppositely disposed grooves, so that spaces 2I are formed between the outer surface of the screen I5 and the inner surface of the inner casing I I.

The member I2, shown in Fig. 7, is adapted to support at the upper open end the igniting element, which element is in the form of a disk of suitable catalytic material, such, for example, as platinum black or spongy platinum. This disk is designated by the reference character 22 and is shaped substantially as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, there being provided a central opening 23 which extends therethrough. The disk 22 is of a size which is adapted for disposition in a suitable cup shaped member 24 provided therefor, said member being shown in Fig. 8, and having its bottom wall provided with a plurality of openings 25. The outwardly extending flange 26 of said member 2E is adapted for disposition against the inner face of an inwardly extending ange 21 provided at the upper edge of the member I2, said flange 21 extending beyond the inner surfaces of the vertical wall 28 of the member 24 to form projecting portions for confining the disk 22 in operative position adjacent the open upper end of the member I2. In order to lock the mem- A ber 24 with the disk 22 thereon in position against the flange 21, an expansible spring member 29, shown in Fig. 9, is provided, said member 29 being adapted when in collapsed position to be rey ceived within the cap I2 and to be disposed adjacent the underside of the ilange 26 of the member 24, as shown in Fig. 2, for securely holding the member 24 in operative position.

As already stated, the member I2 with the disk 22 securely mounted thereon is adapted for disposition over the upper portion of the inner casing I I, in which position ityvill be noted from an examination of Fig. 2 that the disk 22 will be spaced from the uppermost edge of the inner casing, said spaces forming a suitable chamber wherein the vapor from the absorbent I4 may be mixed with the atmospheric air coming up through the passages 2l to render the igniting element 22 incandescent, said incandescence being the effect of the presence of alcohol and atmospheric air. The cap I2 is provided with grooves 3U which are arranged thereon in a manner to co-operate with the grooves I6 provided on the inner casing I I to form continuous air passages for permitting the passage of atmospheric airV downwardly to the bottom of the outer casing ID at which point said air passages communicate with the air passages 2l to permit said air to pass upwardly to be discharged into the space directly below the igniting element 22.

When the inner casing Il has been completely assembled with its cap I2, the same is then disposed within the outer casing IB and locked in position therein in any suitable and well known manner, such, for example, as by means of the projection 3I provided on the member I2, said projection coi-operating with a curved slot 32 to form therewith a bayonet joint for completing the locking engagement between the inner and outer casings. When in this position, as shown in Fig. 1, the upper portions of the grooves 3B, provided in the cap membe'r l2, extend above the uppermost edge of the outer casing I whereby atmospheric air may be admitted to the grooves I6, said air being permitted to reach the underside of the igniting element 22 in the manner already explained.

A suitable closure cap I3 is adapted to completely enclose the igniting element 22 as well as the air passages hereinbeiore described when the lighter is not in use. Said cap i3 is adapted to snugly and telescopically slide over the upper portion of the outer casing EIB and to seat upon an annular shoulder 33 provided on said outer casing, thereby limiting the downward movement of 'said cap upon said casing and positioning the same in proper relation to the casing. Suitable annular beads 34 may be provided on the outer surface of the casing It to insure a snug and substantially air tight iit of said cap I3 upon the casing IB.

From the above it will be apparent that when the cap I3 is in place, lboth the air admission means and the igniting element 22 will be completely enclosed, thereby preventing any catalytic action for generating heat. During removal of the cap I3 the aperture 2li in the catalytic element allows the creation of a vacuum within the casing. When the upper ends of the passages formed by the grooves Bil are uncovered air rushes into these passages and down through those formed by the grooves I6 aligned therewith, through the passages in the inner casing II formed by the cut-out portions l1 provided at the lower ends of the grooves I6 and into the mixing chamber formed adjacent the outer surface of the body of absorbent material by the spaces 2|. The air so drawn into the casing mixes with fuel vapor emanating from the absorbent material as it passes through and over the surface thereof as permitted by the screen I5. The created vacuum causes the resultant mixture to be discharged through the passages formed by the cut-outs 26 into the space directly below the catalytic element. This mixture causes the catalytic material to glow.

By reason of the central opening 23 provided in the disk 22, the flow of vapor through said disk will be greatly facilitated when the end of the cigarette isplaced in contacting Yengagement with the exposed surface of the disk and the person holding the cigarette draws air through it in the natural way. The drawing of the air through the cigarette will create a draft through the disk, thereby causing the vapor and air mixture to pass through the elementl 22, thus enhancing the flow of said mixture to more readily bring the element 2t to incandescence, and cause air to ovv into the casing in a manner similar to that described above to supply fresh charges of air and vapor mixture to the catalytic element.

The provision of the cylindrical screen iii within which the absorbent is housed and the air passages 2l will cause a mixing of the atmospheric air with the alcohol vapor as the said air passes up through said passages 2l and by the time the same reaches the space below the igniting element 22 a thorough mixture of vapor and air will be available for bringing about the catalytic action.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and should also be manifest that While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are, nevertheless, capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A cigarette lighter comprising an open ended casing, an absorbent material charged with a vaporizable fiuid disposed within said casing, a screen surrounding said absorbent Inaterial, means formed on said casing for spacing said screen from said casing to form a mixing chamber adjacent the outer surface of said absorbent material, a sleeve fitted over one end of said casing, a disk of catalytic material supported by said sleeve in the path of vapor from said absorbent material, a surface of said disk being exposed for contact with a cigarette or the like, said casing and sleeve having means for the admission of air to the lower portion of said casing, whereby said air will pass up through said mixing chamber and mix with the vapor during its upward travel to present a mixture of fumes to the underside of said disk.

2. A cigarette lighter comprising a casing, a catalytic element supported on the upper end thereof having a surface disposed for contact with a cigarette or the like, a body of absorbent material adapted to be charged with vaporizable fuel spaced from said catalytic element, means to support said body in said casing spaced therefrom to form a mixing chamber adjacent the outer surface of said body which communicates with the under surface of said catalytic element, and air passages opening into said mixing chamber near the lower end thereof.

3. A cigarette lighter comprising a casing, a holder in said casing, a catalytic element supported by said holder at its upper end having a surface disposed for contact with a cigarette or the like, a body of absorbent material adapted to be charged with vaporizable fuel disposed in the other end of said holder spaced from said catalytic element and from the walls of said holder to form a mixing chamber adjacent the outer surface of said body of absorbent material which communicates with the under surface of said catalytic element, and an air passage opening into said mixing chamber near the lower end thereof.

4. A cigarette lighter comprising a casing, a holder in said casing, a catalytic element sup-- ported by said holder at its upper end having a surface disposed for Contact with a cigarette or the like, a body of absorbent material adapted to be charged With vaporizable fuel disposed in the other end of said holder spaced from said catalytic element and from the walls of said holder to form a mixing chamber adjacent the outer surface of said body of absorbent material which communicates with the under surface of said catalytic element, and an air passage between said holder and said casing opening into the atmosphere near the upper end of said casing and into said chamber near the lower end thereof.

f 5. A cigarette lighter comprising a casing, a holder in said casing, a catalytic element supported by said holder at its upper end having a surface disposed for contact with a cigarette or the like, a body of absorbent material adapted to be charged with vaporizable fuel disposed in the other end of said holder spaced from said catalytic element, means to space the outer surface oi said body of absorbent material from the inner walls of said holder to form a mixing chamber in communication with the under surface of said catalytic element, and longitudinally extending air passages between said casing and said holder opening into the atmosphere near the upper end of said casing and into said mixing chamber near the lower end thereof.

6. A cigarette lighter comprising a casing, a holder in said casing, a catalytic element supported by said holder on its upper end having a surface disposed for contact with a cigarette or the like, groove members formed in said casing to provide longitudinally extending air passages between said holder and said casing opening into the atmosphere at the upper end of said casing and into the bottom end thereof, a body of absorbent material adapted to be charged with vaporizable fuel vdisposed in said holder spaced from said catalytic element and from the walls of said holder by said groove members to form a mixing chamber adjacent the outer surface of said body of absorbent material and communicating with the under surface of said catalytic element and said air passages.

7. A cigarette lighter comprising an outer casing, an inner casing fitted into said casing, indented grooves formed in said inner casing to provide longitudinally extending air passages opening into the atmosphere near the upper end of said outer casing and into the lower end of the latter, a body of absorbent material adapted to be charged with vaporizable fuel disposed in said inner casing, a screen surrounding said body of absorbent material spaced from the inner walls of said inner casing by said groove members to form a mixing chamber between said body of absorbent material and the inner walls of said inner casing, a holder sleeve mounted on the upper end of said inner casing, a catalytic element supported by said holder having a surface disposed for 'contact with a cigarette or the like and spaced from said body of absorbent material.

8. A cigarette lighter comprising an open ended outer casing, an inner casing disposed in said outer casing, groove members formed in'said inner casing to provide longitudinally extending air passages between said outer casing and said inner casing, a body of absorbent material adapted t be charged with vaporizable fuel disposed in said inner casing, a screen surrounding said body of absorbent material spaced from the inner walls of said inner casing by said groove members to form a mixing chamber between said body of absorbent material and the inner walls of said inner casing, passages formed in said inner casing near the lower end thereof between said air passages and said mixing chamber, a holder sleeve supported on said inner casing and provided With groove members fitting into the first mentioned groove members and extending beyond the upper end of said casing to allow said longitudinally extending air passages to open into the atmosphere, a catalytic element supported by said holder sleeve having a surface disposed for Contact With a cigarette or the like and spaced from said body of absorbent material, and a cap to cooperate with said outer easing to cover said catalytic element and the openings of said air passages.

STANLEY ISENBERG. 

